Within this issue is the story of X-Mormon John C. Bennett; I love the way the Mormons squirm with his departure from their 'faith'.

Dr John C. Bennett was a talented member of the Mormon Church. Bennett came to Nauvoo in 1840 and became an inseparable associate of Joseph Smith’s as his skills as a physician made problematic pregnancies disappear. According to Bennett, Smith’s position on the matter was that he was merely sending the unborn into other wombs in other realms. Bennett was well rewarded by Smith as abortionist in chief of the Prophet. Joseph Smith ensured Bennett’s election as mayor of Nauvoo Illinois, as well as “Assistant to the First Presidency.” Because of the public relationship between Smith and Bennett, multiple authors have concluded that Bennett was privied to the evolving teachings and practicing of polygamy by Joseph Smith during their relationship. It is also surmised that Bennett, having a scandalous past, may have been a homosexual with a desire for Smith. Whether Joseph Smith was aware of this seduction is unknown. However, Bennett’s immoralities apparently had reached the Prophet’s ears weeks later. In 1842, L. D. Wasson, Emma Smith’s nephew, wrote to him:

"I was reading in your [Joseph Smith’s] chamber last summer [1841] – yourself and Bennett came into the lower room, and I heard you give J. C. Bennett a tremendous flagellation for practicing iniquity under the base pretense of authority from the heads of the Church – If you recollect I came down just before you were through talking.”

What is certain, is that Joseph Smith was quite shaken with the potential exposure of his mass abortions and what he must do to keep his scorned homosexual conspirator satisfied. Smith was further instrumental in promoting Bennett to ever greater civic and ecclesiastical responsibilities in Nauvoo. Bennett became a General of the Nauvoo Legion, and the chancellor of the University of Nauvoo. Many scholars conclude that Smith was lauding Bennett with that which would keep him on Smith’s good side while not succumbing to a homosexual tryst with Bennett.

During Bennett’s twenty-two month stay in Nauvoo, he experienced a meteoric rise in power that was matched in speed only by his fall from grace, which was primarily due to his sexual behaviors.

Had John C. Bennett quietly exited Nauvoo, leaving the flurry of accusations to fade through the passage of time, the remainder of Joseph Smith’s life might have been dramatically altered. Bennett, however, was not inclined to walk away from a fight. In addition, he was intelligent and gifted in many areas, with established ties to publishers and politicians in the East. Months later he wrote: “He [Joseph Smith] has awakened the wrong passenger … and must suffer.” His written onslaught consisted of six letters to the Sangamo Journal in Springfield, Illinois, penned between July 8 and August 19, followed by an exposé titled The History of the Saints.

After Bennett left Nauvoo in May 1842, he became the target of several failed assassinations by Nauvoo Danites, some of whom were disguised in drag. He soon became a bitter antagonist of Smith and the Latter Day Saint church, reportedly even vowing to drink the blood of Smith.